Chilling footage appearing to show two of the shooters responsible for killing a pair of Queensland police constables has emerged as funeral details for the fallen officers are confirmed.
The video has been labelled a a “vile murder confession” by Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers, who called for the footage to be removed from media sites immediately.
“This is exactly what these cold-blooded executioners wanted,” he said in a statement on Friday.
“They wanted notoriety, publicity and fame for their evil, deranged and insane views, and they should be de-platformed immediately and not have their evil amplified.”
The video from a now-deleted Youtube account shows a couple with a likeness to killer couple Gareth and Stacey Train speaking with little emotion about the attack.
The footage was uploaded on Monday after constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold had been fatally shot but before details of the attack at a rural property in Wieambilla had been reported.
Gareth Train’s brother Nathaniel, who was also involved in the shooting, does not appear in the video.
While it may be legitimate to report the existence of the video, Mr Leavers said broadcasting it was irresponsible.
A funeral service with full police honours will be held in Brisbane for the fallen officers just before Christmas.
The two constables and local resident Alan Dare were gunned down in what investigators believe was a premeditated attack at the remote home in the Western Downs region.
Two more officers, constables Randall Kirk and Keeley Brough, escaped despite coming under fire.
All three of the killers died dressed in camouflage in a firefight with heavily armed tactical officers.
Wednesday’s funeral service will be held at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
Residents of towns near Wieambilla will also gather to pay tribute to the victims of the shooting tragedy.
Planned Christmas celebrations at Tara will also become a time to remember those who died, while in Chinchilla residents will gather for a candlelight vigil to connect and support community members.
Western Downs Mayor Paul McVeigh said the community was deeply saddened but would come together in tribute.
“The outpouring of support and gestures of sympathy and condolences from the residents and businesses of Chinchilla and Tara have been heartwarming at a time when such pain and sadness is being felt,” he said.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is taking advice from the police commissioner about when to visit the affected communities, Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said.
“I’m sure the premier will get out there when she takes that advice when it is best to do so,” Ms Fentiman said.
While the community mourns, Australia’s national security agencies have turned their focus to the role online radicalisation and extremism played in the ambush.
Police continue to probe the Train brothers’ online activities, including their possible involvement in extremist conspiracy groups and forums.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said security agencies were “actively considering” the implications for national security.
“It’s really important that we let law enforcement and national security agencies do their job, (but) once the picture does start to clarify, it is likely that radicalisation will form a part of it,” she told parliament on Thursday.
“It is absolutely clear … that conspiracy theories, disinformation and misinformation … are being turbocharged by technology into terrible acts of violence.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, a former Queensland police officer, likened the killer trio to Islamic extremists and raised serious concerns about online radicalisation.
© AAP 2022
